Faroe Islands : Stamp on The Casement Report 1904 and Daniel J.

Faroe Islands Post will issue a commemorative stamp on the Casement Report 1904 and Daniel J. Danielsen on 24th October 2014. The stamp depicts the portrait of Daniel Danielsenon the characteristic background.

The Casement Report 1904

Faces on fading photographs. Memories and fragments of stories about people a few generations back. Fading traces of lifetimes long passed, exposed to the relentless passing of time.Former trade unionist and politician, Óli Jacobsen, by the newspaper Sosialurin, was asked to write about people buried in Tórshavn’s old cemetery. This resulted in a series of interesting articles called “Henduriðsleptu” (Hands that lost the grip), where the individuals mentioned on the tombstones are described.The most remarkable story was inspired by a tombstone with the inscription:“D. J. Danielsen, Missionary. B. 25 June 1871. D. 16 October 1916. Worked in Congo from 1901 to 1903.A Fearless Christian Soldier.”

Dollin

Daniel Jacob Danielsen, popularly referred to as “Dollin”, is best known for his work as a preacher and missionary in the Faroe Islands in the beginning of the 20th century. He was one of the pioneers in the Faroese “Plymouth Brethren” congregation, which today is the largest Faroese Free Church. He traveled around the islands and held revivalist meetings and was a controversial figure of his time, known for his intensity and fiery mind. At his death, the newspaper Dimmalætting wrote: “In the early days he performed very strongly, but in recent years he became more moderate. He made the impression of a convinced Christian”.

Danielsen’s work on the Faroe Islands gave him both friends and enemies, as might be expected in times of change, and his quarrelsome character did not help the matter.

But it was not on the Faroes that Danielsen made his most significant fingerprints. As indicated on the tombstone, people knew that he had worked as a missionary in Congo, without granting it any particular attention. But when Óli Jacobsen started to trace his footsteps, a quite sensational story emerged, which uncovered D. J. Danielson’s crucial role in events that changed the course of history.